Bibliography is here complex. The ballad was printed about 1635,
but was written about 1600, with a manuscript text of about that
date in BL Addl. MS 14,974. The Welsh of the broadside version
(B) is very corrupt, and that given below is from the MS (a),
reprinted by F. N. Robinson in 1905, and from that reprinted by
H. E. Rollins in 'The Pepys Ballads', I, #32, 1929. The author is
on B given as R. H., and evidence in the MS (A) is that he was
Richard Hughes. Rollins gives both the broadside text (B) and the
MS (A) text, plus a text translated from the MS (A). To add to
the complications, several of the Welsh words are no longer
understood. Note, that there is a lot of repetition, even before
the chorus. The piece is much too sophisticated to be of
broadside origin.



Byd Y bigail (B) [bugail-MS (A)]

Being the same in Welsh, to a dainty new tune. (B)

[Now, MS (A) text]
Diofal yw bywyd y bugail da 'l awen, A
A'i god ac a'i gostrel ai gwns fo mor Hawen.
Mae'n cael y gweirgloddie oi hofian, pan fino,
A'i bibau newyddion ar lasfryn, crwn cryno.
[chorus] Tra fynno, tra fynno, ican pan i tynno
A'i bibau newyddion ar lasfryn crwn, cryno.
   
A'i ddefaid o'i amgylch yn pori 'rhyd dolydd,
Bara a chaws, cwrw da lonaid i golydd;
A'i gostog o'i ymyl yw annos pan fyno
I drosi holl ddefaid i'r glasfryn crwn, cryno.
Tra fynno, &c.

Rhag gwres y Mehefin fo a tan y dail irion,
Rhag oerwynt gwanwyn i dwlc ne glawdd tirion.
O groen yr hen ddafad, ne'r oen cynta a ryno,
Gwna ddyrnfil a bacsau dan lasfryn, crwn cryno.
Tra fynno, &c.

Ni cheir mono's segur un munyd drwy'dydd,
Ond pwytho ne wau pleth-wellt yn wastad y bydd,
A hon drwy syberwyd i bawb ar i pryno
A werth wrth y gwryd tan lasfryn, crwn, cryno.
Tra fynno, &c.

Prynhawn pan ddel Mwynen i'r fuches ne'r gorlan,
Rhaid eiste cyn cytio dan dwmpath ne dorlan,
A bwyta i prynhawn fwyd o'r bwyd [gore] a ellyno,
Tan ffeirio cusanau ar lasfryn, crwn, cryno.
Tra fynno, &c.

Duw, falched yw'r bugail ar dirion fugeiles
Yn canu dyrie bob yn ail, bob yn eilwes;
Ai napkin sidanog o'i phoced pan dynno,
Hi a'i kipia, fo ai tripia ar lasfryn crwn cryno.
Tra fynno, &c.

Ow sefwch, arewch, y bugail drwg, diriaid!
Ffei kiliwch! Dyd, gwiliwch! i chwi ni allai ymddiriaid.
A'ch pibau o chwyyhwch fy nghodau yn llawn,
Fo eiff holl gylenig i bawb ai gofynno.
Na'mdynnwch, os mynwch, ar lasfryn crwn cryno.
Tra fynno, &c.


[Translation]

The Sheperd's Word

Care-free is the life of the shepherd, song-loving! With his bag
and his flagon he makes him so happy. He strolls o'er the meadows
whenever he wishes, with his new pipes on the round and trim
green hills. While he wills, while he wills, he sings when he
tunes his new pipes on the round trim hills.

With his sheep around him, feeding on the meadows; with bread,
cheese, and ale right full his belly; and his dog by his side to
send after whenever he wishes to drive all the sheep to the
round trim green hill.

Against the heat of June he goes under the green leaves, against
the cold winds of spring to a hovel or kindly hedge. From the
skin of an old sheep or the first lamb that is frozen, he makes
himself mittens and leggings 'neath the round trim green hill.

He is never found idle for a minute throught the day; he spends
all his time stitching or weaving straw, which he will generously
sell by measure to any who wishes to buy on the round trim green
hill.

In the afternoon when Mwynwn comes tothe milking-place or the
sheepfold, they sit down, before driving the sheep into the fold,
'neath a mound or bank. They eat their afternoon meal of the best
food with cheese, exchanging kisses on the round trim green
hill.

God, how proud are the shepherd and the gentle sheperdess,
singing songs in turn or alternate verses! His silk kerchief,
when he draws it from her pocket, she snatches it, and he trips
her on the round trim green hill.

O stop, go slow, you wicked mischievious sheperd! O fie, go away!
Lord, take care, for I cannot trust you! Should you with your
pipes blow tight my bags, all the wool of your sheep will be
required to compensate me. To everyone who asks, this is no New
Year's gift. Do not strive together, if you wish to on the round
trim green hill.